The former ambassador of Azerbaijan to Serbia, Montenegro, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, Eldar Hasanov, who was arrested on charges of abuse of authority and misuse of budgetary funds, pleads not guilty. He considers the accusations biased and unfounded and refuses to testify. This was announced by his lawyer Adil Ismayilov, according to Turan.

Hasanov considers his arrest "a misunderstanding and does not lose hope that the issue will find its legal decision," the lawyer said. 

According to him, Hasanov was detained by officers of the State Security Service (SSS) on August 13 in the morning when he was leaving his home, heading for a pre-agreed meeting with Foreign Minister Ceyhun Bayramov.

“Eldar Hasanov was detained as a suspect. The next day, August 14, the Sabail court arrested him. We filed an appeal. On August 20, the Baku Court of Appeal did not satisfy the complaint, leaving the court's decision in force,” the lawyer said. He also added that Hasanov has health problems. In the near future, the defense will appeal to the court with a petition to transfer Hasanov to house arrest.

Hasanov has been an ambassador to the republics of the former Yugoslavia since 2013, and before that he was an ambassador in Romania. In 1995-2000, he served as Attorney General.

According to the State Security Service, Hasanov was arrested as part of a criminal case for financial violations at the Foreign Ministry.

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21.08.2020 11:54